SUN’S SYDNEY LETTER SHIPPING MISHAPS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 326, 11 April 1928, Page 12

SUN’S SYDNEY LETTER SHIPPING MISHAPS

CHARTS AND LIGHTHOUSES SYDNEY, April 5. Not for a long time has Sydney been so thrilled by maritime mishaps as recently, for no fewer than three coastal vessels have been ashore within the last ten days, and so far none of them has been refloated. On top of all this, the Riverina wreck was offered for sale, for the second time. Some time ago, in an obscure paragraph in a city paper, it was stated that a survey ship working on the Queensland coast, had discovered that the coastline was charted three miles too far east. Allowing that a coastal skipper does not worry much about “sights,” relying more on lights, still the possibility of error must be enhanced if the wrong charting of the east coast, of Australia should be found to extend as far south as New South Wales. Regarding the navigation by lights, it is a remarkable thing that practically all the recent strandings have occurred near lighthouses. This is explained by the navigator’s anxiety to pick up a light, and standing in so as to do this; if he misses the light he hits the beach. So far, nowever, none of the Australian skippers has hit the lighthouse, as the Rona did at Flat Point four years ago. Rain and the Great Show

Whenever a large number of New Zealanders are sighted in the Sydney streets, we may be sure something big is on hand. This Royal Show brings them over in scores, and they are a factor to be reckoned with in the prize list. Lately with the Ulimaroa off the run, the fortnightly Union boats have been packed and the presence in the roadway of the large live-stock floats to carry racers or prize stock to the show has indicated that the Dominion will be as much in evidence as ever this time. A New Zealanders whose opinion counts told me that this show is one of the best from the live-stock point of view, barring the horses, which are below standard. Cattle especially are very good, he said. However, from the popular point of view, the weather is the main thing for discussion in connection with the show. To-day, it pelted with rain in the morning, but cleared oil suddenly. New Zealand Tourist Campaign

Sydney people are interested in the campaign being launched in Australia by the New Zealand publicity Department. This country is envious of the activity of the Dominion in this direction, for though a big scheme is in hand to bring tourists here, so many hands are involved that the thing gets tied up oftener than it goes. The wisdom of the Dominion’s action in putting a man in the outside field to work up traffic is approved of. For so long New Zealand has relied on office representation that it seemed hopeless to expect anything more. But the miracle has happened, and this week the papers announce the arrival of two more men for the tourist staffs, while Mr. W. P. Barnett, who has been for eight years the counter man at the New Zealand office here, is to go out after business. This is a just reward for a good man. Nobody has done more, in the face of discouragement, than Mr. Barnett, and others of

it. a more sedentary habit will bMI buck up, if they are to keep level WE the new idea. Australia will get tourists to Australia then New Zealot must get them over the Tasman 8a Mrs. Miller Causes a Stir Thef successful ending of the flip from Great Britain of Captain Lp caster and Mrs. Miller has had aUtr kudos which Australians know how* give, but at the same time, the arrin of a woman aviator has given a ne interest, which even Hinkler’s la* hand speed flight cannot eclipse. Tk arrival of Lancaster and his pasBMPl at Sydney was right up to time. * Melbourne, however, they raiher set the leading citizens by delayn. their arrival unduly and by selectfc.' as a landing ground a space why will not accommodate many peopE Last Saturday, when the two wow fliers dropped down from the clouds* the end of the great aerial pageant t Mascot, Sydney, nothing more a pressive or timely, could have torstaged. Mr. Bruce Criticised There have been various tterw of public interest lately in which name of Mr. Bruce has been tioned disparagingly., One of is the sale of the Commc nweiJ* merchant fleet by public tender, Fj* some reason not yet explained, ■ Bruce has elected to keep certain tefr ders secret, and for this he is ee* severely criticised. There seems up* doubt that some purpose is ben* served by this procedure, but the P** lie knows nothing. In selling Commonwealth Line Mr. Brice find that he has stirred up a horn* nest. Many believe that the monwealth Line stands betwe«ttj and exploitation by combines, aß ® , sale will have an amazing effect !** tically. —WILL. LAWSON